Work

Epidemiology of alcohol use in Sri Lanka: Findings of the SLHAS national survey

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Reliable epidemiological evidence of alcohol use in Sri Lanka is limited. This study addressed this gap using nationally representative data. Data from a 2018/2019 national study of non-institutionalized adults in Sri Lanka were used. Weighted data were analysed using descriptive and logistic regression techniques. Among 6473 adults (mean age 43.9 ( SD = 16.7); 52.5 % women) surveyed, 53.1 % (95 %CI; 51.9 %, 54.3 %) of men and 2.0 % (95 % CI; 1.9 %, 2.1 %) of women were current (yearly) alcohol users. Per capita consumption of alcohol was 3.12 l for men and 0.028 l for women. Predictors of alcohol use in men included being aged 30–39 years, Sinhalese ethnicity, secondary education, currently married, and being in the middle wealth quintile and in women, being aged 30–39 years, Indian Tamil ethnicity, tertiary education, being a widow or separated, and being in the highest wealth quintile were the significant predictors of current alcohol use. Hazardous drinking (≥21 units per week) was observed only in men: 14.1 %. In men, smoking, elevated blood pressure and low self-rated health were related to higher likelihood of alcohol use. Alcohol use showed protective effects on type 2 diabetes and depression in men. Prevalence, distribution and associated factors of alcohol use vary by demographic and health characteristics of Sri Lankan adults. Preventive strategies should be based on population risk stratification of alcohol use. • Epidemiology of alcohol use in Sri Lankan adults (aged 18+ years) is presented in this paper. • The prevalence of current (yearly) alcohol use was 53.1 % for men and 2.0 % for women. • Per capita annual consumption of alcohol was 3.12 l for men and 0.028 l for women. • Educated and wealthy women were more likely to report alcohol use than other women. • Elevated blood pressure and smoking were found to be more prevalent in current male alcohol users than other males.

Source: Global Epidemiology

DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2025.100222